The Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration has re-established the Maritime Security Committee as it seeks to look at traditional and non-traditional threats in the maritime space and how to address those from a legislative point of view.
Permanent secretary for Home Affairs Mason Smith, who presided over the inaugural session at The Pearl resort in Pacific Harbour on Tuesday, said the three-day retreat would allow stakeholders to engage in an active discussion on how to enhance maritime safety.
“We had asked all the stakeholders to come together along with our donor partners like UNDP and others,” Mr Smith said.
“These organisations bring their experts on maritime security to provide us with that maritime domain.”
“They are called ‘technocrats and they understand what is required.”
Mr Smith said these issues have long plagued Fiji’s maritime borders, impacting both its economy and security.
He said illegal fishing, a problem since Fiji’s independence, continued to bleed millions from the nation’s coffers yearly.
The intrusion of unauthorised vessels into Fiji’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) not only threatened marine life, but also undermined Fiji’s economic stability.
“We also understand the geo-political tension in the region.
“But the emerging issue we have found is human trafficking and the rise in drugs.
“So this opportunity would have an open discussion about how we can deal with that at the boarders, what are the roles and responsibilities and what are the resources needed so we can include this in the budget on 8th of June and who is going to be responsible for what.”
He said the technocrats of the retreat would be spearheading the discussions hoping to expand capacityin terms of command and control and partnerships.
The retreat also dovetails with the broader national security and defence review undertaken by Jim Sandy, a former Fiji citizen who is now leading a consultancy team.
“They will then, brief the national security and defence review team which is being undertaking by a Mr Sandy.
The insights garnered from this retreat will inform Fiji’s Maritime Security Strategy which is a pivotal component of the broader defence review.
“For which these people are basically the technocrats and technical working group like the Navy, Biosecurity, FRCA, customs and immigration, Ministry of environment and climate change.
“They are at the frontlines of our nation battling these issues at a boarder level.
“And as they protect our boarders and share information and come together when there is an incident.
“The review team will also give a briefing on what they think should be included in the maritime security strategy.”
